A Brief Update of the Current Landscape of Bone Targeted Therapies for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer tends to metastasize to bones as opposed to soft tissue and other organs.   We have no idea why it does have a preference for bone, but it does. Developing bone metastases in prostrate cancer is a very strong negative prognostic indicator. Prostate cancer’s tendency to favor bone over soft tissue causes significant morbidity [...]

Skeletal Events and the Treatment of Men with Advanced Prostate Cancer

Many of our doctors are constantly vigilant about our developing skeletal related issues.   Having advanced prostate cancer and receiving treatment for this disease increases our odds of developing skeletal issues which affect both our quality of life and our mortality. Drugs like denosumab (Xgeva) and zoledronic acid (Zometa) are important in delaying the onset of [...]

Randy Sheffield Shares An Important Warning About ONJ

Randy Sheffield, a member of the Malecare Advanced Prostate Cancer Online support group recently has had his fight with advanced prostate cancer made even more complex when he developed Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). ONJ is an uncommon but terrible side effect of taking bisphosphonates. Randy wrote a warning to all the members of the [...]

Enhancement of Chemotherapy by Pretreating Cells with Zoledronic Acid (Zometa)*

Chemotherapy using docetaxel remains an important  therapy, despite the newly approved drugs, to treat hormone refractory prostate cancer. Chemotherapy improves survival, however, all men taking it will eventually become refractory to the treatment. Zoledronic acid (ZA) is the most potent member of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate family and has anti-tumor activity in prostate cancer. In a study, [...]

What you Need to Know About Denosumab (Xgeva)

Xgeva is used in men with advanced and metastatic prostate cancer with bone metastases for the prevention of developing additional skeletal-related events (not to be confused with bone mineral density). In a phase 3 trial, the 147 Study, evaluating denosumab (Xgeva) versus placebo 1,432 men with castrate-resistant prostate cancer demonstrated that Xgeva improved median bone [...]

Denosumab or Zoledronic Acid – Which is Superior for Pain Interference and Improving Quality of Life?

Men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and bone metastases (BM) will often have debilitating pain that impacts every aspect of their daily functioning thus significantly diminishing their quality of life (QoL). Finding the best drug or treatment to control the pain will allow men to have a more complete and fulfilling life as well as [...]

How Long Is It Safe to Take Bisphosphonates for Osteoporosis? Long Term Bisphosphonate Therapy Increases the Risk for Serious Fractures of the Femur

A John’s Hopkins Health Alert titled “How Long Is It Safe to Take Bisphosphonates for Osteoporosis?” Should Raise Some Concerns Men on Long Term Bisphosphonate Therapy Hormone therapy (ADT) is notorious for many negative side effects, including osteoporosis.  Osteoporosis is the thinning of bone that increases the risk for fractures, especially hip and spine fractures.  [...]

Using Denosumab (Xgeva) To Combat Skeletal Complications in Prostate Cancer

Xgeva is a monoclonal antibody that inactivates RANKL, a protein that enhances osteoclast activity and survival. By inhibiting RANKL, Xgeva prevents skeletal-related events in men with bone metastasis from prostate cancer. Under no circumstances should a man who also has multiple myeloma use Xgeva. There have been studies that compared Xgeva to zolendronic acid (Zometa). [...]

Early Use of Zoledronic Acid (Zometa) in Men with Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer and Bone Metastases: Results of CALGB 90202 (Alliance).

We have long known that Zoledronic Acid (Zometa) decreases a man’s risk of developing skeletal-related events (SREs) in men with castration-resistant advanced prostate cancer (CRPC) and bone metastases. In a phase III study that evaluated efficacy and safety of earlier treatment with Zometa in men with advanced prostate cancer which is still castration-sensitive found that [...]

Osteonecrosis Of The Jaw While Taking Zometa & Xgeva

The use of denosumab (Xgeva) as an alternative to the more commonly prescribed zoledronic acid (Zometa) to slow down the development of bone metastases in men with advanced prostate cancer is becoming more common. The most common concern for men taking Zometa and now Xgeva has been osteonecrosis of the jaw. Osteonecrosis of the jaw [...]

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